148th Fighter Wing Holds Award and Retirement Ceremony

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth’s 148th Fighter Wing held its annual awards and retirement ceremony at the DECC Sunday.

Before awards were given this afternoon, the Fighter Wing looked back on its accomplished work during the past year, reflecting on its 75th anniversary of service.

Awards were presented to multiple levels of service members –from a Pilot to Non-Commissioned Officers.

The 31 members of the 148th who retired this past year, were also honored.

“These folks have to compete in their local shops that they work, then they compete at their squadrons and they compete at their groups, then they compete at the wing,” said Col. Nathan Aysta, Commander, 148th Fighter Wing.  “So those different organizations start from small to big and they compete, they win, score the time. They’re up on that stage, they beat a lot of other people, so they are the best of the best.”

One member of the 148th is Master Sergeant Alicia LaGarde, who received multiple awards, including the “Air National Guard Medical Service Leadership Award.”

“It was very humbling and honoring for me. My family is here with me, so just showing them that hard work really pays off,” said MSgt. Alicia LaGarde, Aerospace Medical Technician Supervisor, 148th Medical Group. “Getting rewarded is not always expected, but it’s nice, it’s an extra bonus.”

LaGarde leads a team responsible for medical care, training and education to enhance mission effectiveness.

Also at the ceremony, Mayor Roger Reinert gave a speech to the Fighter Wing acknowledging his awareness of what the military members go through– as Reinert is a Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve.